"I'm warning you," said the butcher at Tiptop Meats in Vista, "these baby backs are meaty." With mouth watering, I drove home post haste and proceeded to prepare the family meal of baby back ribs with Little Hermit Stout barbecue sauce. An hour later, I looked out out over the street below like a proprietary hawk, and who should drive by slowly -- very slowly, as though waiting to be discovered? Dad and Mom. I ran out to the front porch and beckoned them in. Between you and me, I had meant to invite them a couple of days ago for tonight's dinner but got caught up in the week's drama -- you don't need to know more (unless you invite me over for a beer). Let's just say the ribs with stout sauce, taters and corn on the cob were eaten -- no leftovers.

Making the barbecue sauce with Little Hermit Stout.

In the background, chicken broth is simmering for a black bean with ham hock soup to be made in a couple of days. Did I mention that pork is good?